Physical Education - A Level

A Level Physical Education will develop your knowledge and understanding of the scientific and sociocultural factors that underpin physical activity, and equip you with skills to be a capable performer or coach.

Topics covered include:

• Applied anatomy and physiology - developing your knowledge and understanding of the changes within the body systems prior to exercise, during the exercise of differing intensities and during recovery
• Skill acquisition - focusing on how skill is acquired and the impact of psychological factors on performance
• Sport and society - developing your knowledge and understanding of the interaction between, and the evolution of, sport and society
• Exercise physiology - understanding the adaptations to the body systems through training or lifestyle, and how these changes affect the efficiency of those systems
• Biomechanical movement - developing your knowledge and understanding of motion and forces, and their relevance to performance in physical activity and sport
• Sport psychology - developing your knowledge and understanding of the role of sport psychology in optimising performance in physical activity and sport
• Sport and society and the role of technology in physical activity and sport - developing your knowledge and understanding of the interaction between, and the evolution of, sport and society and the technological developments in physical activity and sport

You will need:

• Grade 5 or above in GCSE English Language
• Grade 5 or above in GCSE Maths
• Grade 5-5 or above in GCSE Combined Science (GCSE Biology grade 5 or above) and GCSE PE grade 6 or above
• or Grade 6-6 in GCSE Combined Science
• We will consider students with BTEC Level 2 (or equivalent) with a Merit grade
• One further GCSE at grade 4 or above
• In addition, you *must* also play, or coach, a sport competitively - a full list of eligible sports from the DfE is available here.

If you wish to study 4 A Levels, you will need:

• 7 GCSEs at grade 7 or above, including two at grade 8.

All applicants must have an interview to confirm that A Levels are suitable for them. We recommend studying another science subject, such as Biology, Chemistry, Psychology or Physics, alongside PE.

Assessment is 30% practical and 70% theory, with two examinations worth 35% each.

• Paper 1: Factors affecting participation in physical activity and sport
• Paper 2: Factors affecting optimal performance in physical activity and sport

School Leavers

If you will be aged 16, 17 or 18 on 31 August in the year you begin your course, and have been resident in the UK/EU/EEA for the past 3 years, it will be free. Some courses will have other costs associated, such as for materials and trips. Many of our students are eligible for financial support when studying at college – please click here for more information.

A Levels are widely regarded as the standard entry qualification for top universities in the UK, and the rest of the world. Many of our students go on to study for a degree at the university of their choice, with some choosing to progress into apprenticeships or other employment.